CIRCA 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.

These beads probably either once formed a necklace or were elements of a sceptre or staff. Such groups are usually found in stone or terracotta; the use of gold is extremely rare and most likely indicates a royal or noble heritage (see exhibition catalogue, In Pursuit of the Absolute, Art of the Ancient World from the George Ortiz collection, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1994, no. 27 for a very similar group).